Rake HARLEY RAKE NEED HELP ( Especially RaT)

[jackson1]

I have a new Landpride 2572 power rake with spiral bars, 3 point type, it has the tines that lower and has the hydraulics to adjust the bar. I have not gotten the knack on how to opertate it, I"m terrible at it. I seem to dig to deep and keep getting more and more rocks, it does seperates the rocks from the ground but I get all kinds of soil mixed with the rocks. I did about a 1/3 rd of an acre and by the time I picked up the rocks with my loader I had a pile about the size of a dump truck with some rocks but mostly soil. Can some of you experienced people give me some advice on how to operate this thing.
Also, does anyone use a rock bucket to seperate the rocks from the soil. The way I am doing it now, I am taking up more top soil than rocks. Thanks for such a great forum and thanks for all the enjoyment I have gotten from everyones comment. I have learned alot, just not about power rakes. JIM /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[beenthere]

I can't say for sure, but sounds like a top link adjustment to do less digging and more picking/separation of rocks.
With the Harley Rake, I can say that there is some trial and error to get it to work smoothly, and windrow the rocks separate from the soil. But with your Landpride setup, it is different, and a specific recommendation beyond the top link tweeking, escapes me.

Some sort of 'strainer' to separate the loose rocks from the soil mixture in the form of a rock picker may be the ticket. Maybe multiple passes without the diggers would help. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[namuh1]

I just made a post on separating rocks with a Harley rake. I'm too new here to know how to reference that post, but a search for 'Harley rake' on posts in the last month should turn it up. The principle for the Landpride is the same. There is a material gate they call the 'material control blade'. This blade forms a gate opening between the roller and the blade. This is what controls what goes 'through' the rake and what is pushed out the front or windrowed to the side. To separate dirt and rocks, set it to a very small opening and travel slowly. Depth of cut is directly related to the HP of your tractor and the soil conditions. Depth of cut will also determine how easily you 'pull out' rocks and of what size.

Good Luck

 

[_RaT_]

I have found that the material moisture plays a huge part in the successfulness of the rake. My Harley's bars are now about 1/3 worn off so I must account for that. I adjust my material gate as it was mentioned here to about 1". My final pass is always with no spring teeth down. My process goes like this: I rip with my box scraper, follow with multiple passes with my rake with the spring tooth bar down, my rake level from front to back. This consolidates, breaks the clods and does most of my finish grading. When I am happy with the fine grading the rake has done, I pull up the hydraulic spring tooth bar, lock my floating hydraulic horizontal bar so it either moves the material or must lift the entire rake. I know it sounds complicated because the Harley Pro 8 differs considerably in operation then the T-8 or T-6 and I do not know about the Landpride features. Suffice it to say, make sure the roller is clean of locked on dirt so the dirt can get through but not the rocks, at least not those over 1". It is trial and error. Don't necessarily windrow fully, let the soil work out. The final passes you can go fast but let the rake sift the dirt and rocks. I wish I had a Landpride to test out. Best of luck in your learning. I know it gets frustrating, but consider having a hand rake nearby. When you get frustrated with the Landpride power rake, get off the tractor, rake by hand and you will quickly regain your composure and give it another shot. This technique works really well when its hot. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif